Chamelaucium (Waxflower) plant named Painted Lady

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct interspecific Chamelaucium hybrid cultivar (known commercially as waxflower) distinguished by its strong and erect flowering stems; upright and freely branching, dense plant habit; dark red flower bud color; purple flower color; and excellent postharvest longevity.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chamelaucium (Waxflower), botanically known as an interspecific Chamelaucium hybrid, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name Painted Lady.

The new cultivar is a product of a planned and controlled breeding program conducted by the inventors in Coorow, Western Australia, Australia. The new cultivar originated from a deliberate cross by the inventors between two different species of the genus Chamelaucium. An unnamed selection of Chamelaucium megalopetalum was used as the female or seed parent and the Chamelaucium uncinatum cultivar Purple Pride (not patented) was used as the male or pollen parent. Twenty days after the cross-pollination, the immature seed pod was harvested and the developing embryos were aseptically dissected and transferred onto a nutrient agar-based medium for further development. Mature plants developed from these dissected embryos. The cultivar Painted Lady was discovered and selected by the inventors as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Coorow, Western Australia, Australia.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar by cuttings taken at Coorow, Western Australia, Australia, and Escondido, Calif., has shown that the unique features of this new Chamelaucium plant are stabilized and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of the new Chamelaucium. These characteristics in combination distinguish Painted Lady as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Strong and erect flowering stems.

2. Upright and freely branching, dense plant habit.

3. Dark red flower bud color.

4. Purple flower color.

5. Excellent postharvest longevity.

The new Chamelaucium differs from its seed parent, the selection of Chamelaucium megalopetalum, in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Chamelaucium flower faster than plants of the seed parent.

2. The petal shape of plants of the new Chamelaucium is round whereas the petal shape of plants of the seed parent is obovate.

3. When opening, the petal color of the new Chamelaucium is light violet whereas the petal color of the seed parent is white. At maturity, the petal color of the new Chamelaucium is purple whereas the petal color of the seed parent is white.

4. The floral tubes of the new Chamelaucium are more narrow than the floral tubes of the seed parent.

5. Plants of the new Chamelaucium have more flowers per stem and appear more dense and full than plants of the seed parent.

6. Plants of the new Chamelaucium have broader flowering stems compared to plants of the seed parent.

The new Chamelaucium differs from its pollen parent, the Chamelaucium uncinatum cultivar Purple Pride, in the following characteristics:

1. The petal shape of the new Chamelaucium is round whereas the petal shape of Purple Pride is obovate.

2. The petal color of the new Chamelaucium when opening is light violet compared to the purple petal color of Purple Pride. At maturity, the petal color of the new Chamelaucium is lighter and less red than the petal color of Purple Pride. The floral tube color is also different, as the floral tube of the new Chamelaucium is yellow green and the floral tube of Purple Pride is red brown. Additionally the floral tube is narrow on plants of the new Chamelaucium compared to plants of Purple Pride.

3. Plants of the new Chamelaucium have more flowers per stem and appear more dense and full than plants of Purple Pride.

The new Chamelaucium can be compared to the Chamelaucium cultivar Revelation, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,791. Plants of Painted Lady differ from plants of Revelation in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Chamelaucium have a more freely branching habit, shorter internodes and more flowers than plants of Revelation giving plants of the new Chamelaucium a dense and full appearance compared to Revelation's semi-open habit.

2. Plants of the new Chamelaucium have shorter leaves and peduncles than plants of Revelation.

3. The petal color of the new Chamelaucium when opening is light violet compared to the white petal color of Revelation. At maturity, the petal color of the new Chamelaucium is purple compared to the light violet petal color of Revelation. The petal coloration develops slower on plants of the new Chamelaucium compared to plants of Revelation.

4. Plants of the new Chamelaucium have narrow and smooth floral tubes compared to the wide and fluted floral tubes of plants of Revelation.

5. Cut flowering stems of plants of the new Chamelaucium last twice as long after harvesting as cut flowering stems of Revelation.

A detailed comparison of the new Chamelaucium, its parents and Revelation plants appears in Chart A at the end of the specification.

The new Chamelaucium plant has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature and light level, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The accompanying colored photographs show typical specimens of the vegetative growth and flowers of the new Chamelaucium plant, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The first photograph comprises a side perspective view of typical flowering stems of the new Chamelaucium plant grown in Escondido, Calif. This photograph shows the floriferousness, freely branching habit and denseness of flowering stems of the new Chamelaucium.

The second and third photographs comprise close-up views of the cultivar's unique petal colors that change with the development of the flower. In the second photograph, flower buds are dark red; and as the flowers open, the petal color changes to a light violet at the distal end with a lighter violet or white at the petal base. In the third photograph, flowers shown are mature and petal color is uniformly purple. In these photographs, the petal colors appear more red than the actual petal colors due to light reflectance.

The following observations, measurements, values, and comparisons describe plants grown in Escondido, Calif. Values representing size of plants, flowers and foliage are averages of plants produced under standard commercial cultural practices. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

Classification:

Botanical.--An interspecific Chamelaucium hybrid, Chamelaucium megalopetalum×Chamelaucium uncinatum cultivar Painted Lady.

Commercial.--Hybrid waxflower.

Parentage:

Female or seed parent.--Selection of Chamelaucium megalopetalum (not patented).

Male or pollen parent.--Chamelaucium uncinatum cultivar Purple Pride (not patented).

Plant description:

Form.--Erect, branched woody shrub.

Growth habit.--Vigorous rigid and unright. Freely branching, dense, full appearance.

Flowering stem length.--1.5 to 2 m.

Foliage description.--Numerous leaves on one- and two-year-old wood; opposite arrangement; sessile; and aromatic. Internode length: 8 mm. Leaf size: Length: 13 mm. Width: 1.5 mm. Shape: Narrowly lanceolate. Texture: Glabrous. Margin: Entire. Aspect: Flat and thick. Color: Dark green sometimes with red tint.

Flower description:

Flowering season.--Flowers develop and open throughout the spring.

Flower longevity as a cut flower.--Flower last at least 28 days after harvesting, flowers and calyx persistent.

Flowering habit.--Flowers develop on thin first-year stems from upper axils. Numerous flowers arranged in terminal clusters, broad and dense floral display.

Flower shape.--Rounded outline, flattened cup-shaped floral tube with rounded, slightly cupped, orbicular petals.

Flower diameter.--1.7 cm.

Flower bud.--Form: Rounded, covered with thin deciduous bracteoles. Diameter: 7 to 8 mm prior to petal opening. Color: With operculum: Dark red (53A) with hints of dark green (147A). Without operculum: White (155D) to very light violet (77D). Bud tube: Green (143B).

Petals.--Quantity: Five. Shape: Rounded, slightly cupped and orbicular. Diameter: 7 mm. Texture: Waxy. Calyx: Five calyx lobes arranged alternately between petals. Color: When opening: Light violet (77C) on the distal portion of the flower petal shading to a lighter violet (77D or 75D) or white (155D) at the base of the petal. Mature flowers: Purple (72B). Flower nectary, immature: Yellow green (152C). Flower nectary, mature: Purple brown (183B). Calyx lobe, mature: Pale pink/purple. Floral tube: Fluting: Slight. Outline: Flared. Diameter: Narrow, 3.5 mm. Color: Midpoint: Yellow green. Distal end: Yellow green. Peduncles: Length: 6 to 8 mm. Aspect: Upright and erect. Color: Green. Fragrance: Aromatic when crushed.

Reproductive organs.--Stamens: Quantity: Ten fertile stamens with ten infertile stamenoids arranged alternatively between stamens. Staminoidal outline: Narrow to medium, triangular. Stamenoidal collar color, mature: Pale pink to purple. Anthers, mature: Width: 0.7 mm. Color: Brown (199B). Filaments: Length: 25 mm. Color: White. Pollen: Color: Green brown. Texture: Waxy and sticky. Pistils: Quantity: One. Style: Length: 7 mm. Color: Immature: White. Mature: Light violet (84B) with red base. Stigma: Color, mature: Yellow (17B). Texture: Bearded and pubescent.

Fruit.--Shape: Hemispherical. Form: Three-celled capsule formed by the hardened base of the persistent calyx.

Disease resistance: No resistance or susceptibility to plant pathogens has been observed.

                  CHART A                                                          ______________________________________                                                                        Chamel-                                                                        aucium                                                                PUR-     mega-                                                                 PLE      petalum                                                     PAINT-    PRIDE,   selection,                                                                            REV-                                     CHARACTER-  ED        pollen   seed   ELA-                                     ISTIC       LADY      parent   parent TION                                     ______________________________________                                         FLOWER BUD  Dark red  Dark red Red    Dark red                                 COLOR, WITH with hint 46A      46B    46A                                      OPERCULUM   of dark                                                                        green 53A                                                                      with 147A                                                          BUD COLOR,  White to  Pale     White  White                                    WITHOUT     light     purple   155B   155D                                     OPERCULUM   violet 155D                                                                              80A                                                                  to 77D                                                             BUD TUBE    Green     Green    Light  Green to                                 COLOR       143B      146A     green  violet                                                                  145A   144A to                                                                        77B                                      PETAL SHAPE,                                                                               Round     Obovate  Obovate                                                                               Round                                    AFTER                                                                          OPENING                                                                        PETAL COLOR,                                                                               Light violet                                                                             Purple   White  White                                    WHEN OPENING                                                                               Tip: 77C  78A      155B   155C                                                 Base: 77D                                                                      to 75D                                                                         to 155D                                                            PETAL COLOR Medium    Medium   Slow   Fast                                     DEVELOPMENT                                                                    RATE                                                                           PETAL COLOR,                                                                               Purple    Red      White  Light                                    MATURE      72B       purple   155D   violet                                                         59B/59C         84B                                      FLOWER      Yellow    Light    Green  Green                                    NECTARY     green 152C                                                                               brown    148A   146D                                     COLOR,                177D                                                     IMMATURE                                                                       FLOWER      Purple    Dark     Green  Green                                    NECTARY     brown     purple   146B/  147A                                     COLOR,      183B      187A     146C                                            MATURE                                                                         STAMINOIDAL Narrow to Broad,   Medium,                                                                               Narrow,                                  OUTLINE     medium,   triangu- triangu-                                                                              triangu-                                             triangular                                                                               lar      lar    lar                                      STAMINOIDAL Pale pink/                                                                               Pale     White  Very                                     COLLAR COLOR,                                                                              purple    pink/           pale                                     MATURE                purple          pink/                                                                          purple                                   CALYX LOBE  Pale pink/                                                                               Pale     White  Pale                                     COLOR,      purple    pink/           purple                                   MATURE                purple                                                   STYLE COLOR,                                                                               Light     Purple   White  Light                                    MATURE      violet, 84B,              violet                                               with red                  84B                                                  base                                                               FLORAL TUBE Slight    Slight   Slight Prom-                                    FLUTING,                              inent                                    IMMATURE                                                                       FLORAL TUBE Flared    Flared   Conical                                                                               Flared                                   OUTLINE                                                                        FLORAL TUBE 3.5 mm    7 mm     6.8 mm 6.8 mm                                   DIAMETER                                                                       FLORAL TUBE Yellow    Red/     Green  Green                                    COLOR,      green     brown                                                    MIDPOINT                                                                       FLORAL TUBE Yellow    Red/     Green  Purple                                   COLOR, DISTAL                                                                              green     brown           brown                                    END                                                                            FLOWERING   Broad     Broad    Narrow Broad                                    STEM SHAPE                                                                     ______________________________________                                     

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Chamelaucium interspecific hybrid plant named Painted Lady, as illustrated and described. 